3

Please have a look at the cover art of Karma to Burn's album Almost Heathen:

enter image description here

There is a second version of it, with some subtle changes:

enter image description here

In the background, you can see three men standing together, each holding his right hand up, with the number 1291 displayed below them. To the right, an old man is sitting there, with the number 2001 (the album's release year) displayed below.

When I saw this, it reminded me of two related things most Swiss people would be reminded of. Then I saw that the old man to the left is holding a Swiss flag in the second version of the cover art, where you can also read the names of the cantons of Genève and Neuchâtel at the bottom.

Is there a specific meaning to the cover art? Has the band any connection to Switzerland or Swiss myths?

Improve this question

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
2

I found the source of the cover art and its connection to Switzerland. It's a painting by Albert Gantner from 1910, the year when the production and sale of Absinthe was prohibited. I found the painting on the Wikipedia page about Absinthe, in the section where the probihibition in Switzerland is mentioned.

The dead woman in the painting is the fée verte, the green fairy, a common name for Absinthe:

enter image description here

Improve this answer
3
  • Interesting stuff. What kind of band is Karma to Burn and why would they be interested in the absinthe prohibition (which by the way was not only prohibited in the Switzerland but also in France and perhaps other countries too due to it's poisonous properties)?
    – José David
    Commented Aug 13, 2016 at 14:48
  • 1
    @joseem It's a Stoner Metal band. Most likely they just liked the art, and perhaps they also like to drink Absinthe :-)
    – Bass
    Commented Aug 15, 2016 at 9:47
  • Yes, the art is quite neat. And you can drink (properly manufactured)absinthe quite safely nowadays :-)
    – José David
    Commented Aug 15, 2016 at 11:55

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge you have read our privacy policy.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.